The Moose Jaw Generals' playoff push has come to an end.
The Generals went into the weekend sitting eight points back of the Saskatoon Contacts with four games remaining in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League schedule, and as a result had an outside, remote chance of making up the ground they needed to crack the top eight in the league.
But a 4-2 loss to the Contacts at Mosaic Place on Saturday afternoon brought those hopes to a halt, as the Generals were mathematically eliminated – the local squad fell to 15-23-2-1 and are now 10 points back of the Contacts with three games remaining.
Moose Jaw looked to stay alive in the early going, as Jeron Kletzel and Steven Kesslering scored on the power play and shorthanded respectively to give the Generals a 2-1 lead through two periods. The Contacts took over in the final frame, though, scoring a pair of markers on the man advantage as part of their three-goal period.
The Generals were 1-for-7 on the power play, Saskatoon was 2-for-4.
Jaeden Mercier scored twice for the Contacts, Davin Griffin and Josh Paulhus had single markers.
Jaxson Taupert made 37 saves for Moose Jaw, Cole Johnston stopped 27 for Saskatoon.
Moose Jaw is back in action Sunday when they host the Battlefords Stars (1:30 p.m., Mosaic Place).
